Improvement in machines for cutting horn



G. M. GRUIGKSHANK. Machine for Cutting Horn.

No. 222,346. Patented Dec. 9, 1879.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

GEORGE M. ORUIOKSHANK, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING HORN.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,346, dated December 9, 1879; application filed October 23, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. ORUIoK- SHANK, of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented an Improvement in Machines for Cutting Horn or other Similar Material, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is intended to furnish an improved machine for the purpose of cutting horn or similarmaterial into thin narrow strips without first cutting it into thin sheets 011 a separate machine, and without the employment of the objectionable feeding roll or rolls heretofore employed; and it consists in a revolving drum carrying upon one side of its periphery a set of thin sharp spurs for first forming the proper number of shallow grooves in the surface of the sheet of horn, and upon the opposite side an adjustable knife for shaving the grooved surface of the horn to-the required depth, thus producing the properlysevered strips at each revolution of the drum.

My invention also consists in a lever or other suitable instrumentality provided with a number of spring-fingers, the ends of which press against the outer surface of the piece of horn to be operated upon, and hold it up in a curved form against the periphery of the drum and the cutting-knives.

It also consists in forming the rim of the drum hollow, for the purpose of circulating steam therein, in order to preserve the proper temperature for cutting the horn.

Figure 1 is a plan view, showing thetop of the table, the steam-circulating drum provided with the cutting-knives, and the pivoted holding-lever provided with spring-fingers, a portion of the rim of the drum being cut away in order to show the operation of the knife. Fig. 2 is a section taken in the line a: a: of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the knife for cutting off the strips and the curved arm to which it is attached. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the plate to which the groovingcutters are attached. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken in the line y y of Fig. 1, showing the wedge and screw for adjusting the position of the knife.

In the drawings, A'is the table, to which is attached the platform B, supporting the lever G, which is pivoted thereto at the point D. The revolving drum E is provided upon one side of its periphery with the cutters a a a, set

in the face of the plate F, which is attached by screws or otherwise to the inner side of the rim of the drum. The front portion of the plate F, provided with the cutters, extends through a slot or opening in the rim, so that the ends of the cutters may project beyond the periphery of the drum far enough to cut or groove the sheet of horn G to a depth equal to the thickness of the strips required to be cut, and the cutters a a a may be adjusted, either individually or collectively, in regard to the extent of projection beyond the periphery of the drum, by any suitable means. Upon the opposite side of the drum is placed the adjustable knife H, serving the purpose of cutting off the previously-grooved surface of the sheet of horn to the depth required to produce strips of the proper thickness. The knife H is attached to a curved arm, I, pivoted to the inner portion of the drum at the point J, and projects through a slot or opening in the rim of the drum to a point sufficiently in advance of the periphery to enable the cutting-edge of the knife to shave the proper thickness. A channel, K, is left between the inner side of the knife and the back port-ion of the arm I,

for the purpose of properly guiding the strips into the interior L of the drum, from which they may be removed in quantities. The knife H is adjusted in the amount of its extension beyond the periphery of the drum by means of the screw M and wedge N, (shown in Fig. 5,) which operates upon an inclined portion, a, of the arm I, in opposition to the spring 0, attached to the inner side of the rim of the drum, and which serves to hold the end of the knife-carrying arm I firmly against the face of the wedge. The inner face of the lever O is armed with numerous spring-fingers, P P P, the ends of which are arranged in a curve, in order to properly press the softened sheet of horn G against the periphery of the drum.

The lever 0 may be held in proper working position by means of a pin, Q, which enters a hole in the platform B, or by other desirable fastening, and the action of the springs R upon the individual fingers P will press the sheet of horn uniformly throughout its'whole extent against the surface of the drum and the cutting-blades. A fixed head, S, is attached to the platform 13, for the purpose of holding the end of the sheet of horn G against the action of the cutting-blades. The lever C may be moved back, as shown by the dotted lines, in order to insert a fresh piece of horn.

Steam is admitted to the hollow space T in the rim of the drum through the fixed pipe U, secured to the drum by means of the stuffingbox V. The drum E is secured to the upright shaft W, which is driven by means of the bevel-gear X and pinion Y.

I claim as my invention 1. The revolving drum E, provided with an adjustable knife, H, in combination with the spring-fingers PP, arranged for operation substantially as described.

GEORGE M. ORUIOKSHANK.

Witnesses HARMON S. BABGOOK, ALONZO T. Onos'r. 

